About RCSI    Contact RCSI    Feedback    Library     Meetings    

Newsletters    Online Reporting    Railroad Links    Safety First    Services   

Security Alert Levels

The Association of American Railroads (AAR), in association with segments of the railroad industry including Class 1 railroads, the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA), customers, and various regulatory agencies has developed a system of Alert Levels relative to railroad security.

These Alert Levels are:

Level 1 – New normal day-to-day operations

Level 2 – Heightened security awareness

Level 3 – A credible threat of an attack on the U.S. or railroad industry (continuously reevaluated)

Level 4 – A confirmed threat of attack against the railroad industry or actual attack in the U.S. (implemented up to 72 hours and reevaluated)

The following actions will be taken upon the declaration of an alert level. These actions include mechanical, engineering, and transportation actions for each of the four levels.

Not every action may apply to your operations.

Alert Level 1 Actions

• Emphasize current operating rules and procedures

• Remain aware of environment and current situation

• Conduct security training and awareness activities

• Report suspicious activity to railroad police or proper authority

• Do not disclose information to anyone who does not have a need-to-know

• Increase accountability for securing company physical assets

• Periodically test that security systems are operating as intended

• Be alert for transients in trailing locomotives

Alert Level 2 Actions

• All Level 1 Actions

• Review procedures for each alert level as implemented

• Include security and awareness briefings as part of daily job briefings

• Increase vigilance and scrutiny of railcars and equipment during mechanical inspections looking for unusual items mounted on, under, or, where possible, in

cars, with special attention to military, certain hazardous materials, and other sensitive freight

• Increase inspections of fuel storage and handling facilities

• Conduct spot identification checks

• Increase scope of inspections of freight cars for potential threats and/or explosives

• Conduct spot content inspections of motor vehicles on railroad property

• Conduct spot content inspections of cars and containers for cause

Alert Level 3 Actions

Alert Level 3 can be declared industry wide for a short period of time or can apply in the immediate geographic or operating area (e.g., Mid-West or HAZMAT) where or when intelligence has identified that terrorist action against a more specific location or operation is imminent.

• All Level 2 Actions

• Increase security at designated facilities

• Decrease hazardous materials storage

• Implement physical security controls at designated facility entrances (like headquarters, data centers, customer service centers, crew management centers,

operations centers, and telecommunication centers).

• Implement 24-hour surveillance at designated fuel storage and handling facilities.

• Stop parking within the appropriate distance of any fuel storage, fuel pumping equipment or locomotive fueling pad

• Increase track inspections of tunnels and bridges

• Restrict unauthorized vehicle access to bridges and tunnels

• Conduct periodic and thorough inspections of critical backup utility services, using trained staff of contractors

• Where installed, activate interior access controls at headquarters, data centers, customer service centers, crew management centers, operations centers, and

telecommunication centers

• Increase vigilance in checking employee identification

• Train crews immediately notify the dispatcher of unusual stops (red signals, defect detectors)

• Dispatcher notify security of any unusual stops

• Require regular location / status reports of trains operating in dark territory

• Consider increasing fuel inventories at selected locations

• Encourage “third parties” to review and verify new / unknown customers

• Check communications with water facility / plants in the event of a derailment or attack near a water inlet

• Request implementation of National Guard Security for critical assets.

Alert Level 4 Actions

Alert Level 4 can be declared industry wide for a short period of time (72 hours) or canapply in the immediate geographic or operating area (e.g., Mid-West or HAZMAT)where a terrorist attack has occurred or when intelligence has confirmed that terrorist action against a more specific location or operation is imminent.

• All Level 3 Actions

• Move external trash containers, dumpsters, and other containers (newspaper) away from all facilities and structures, except in secured areas

• Increase vigilance and scrutiny of railcars and equipment during mechanical inspections looking for unusual items

• Verify the identity of crewmembers picking up outbound locomotives at service facility or on line

• Escort crews to trains (where possible) or use verified contract drivers

• Crews on trains stopped enroute due to unusual occurrences (stop signal, defect detector immediately notify dispatcher and dispatcher immediately deploys

assistance.

• Dispatchers verify to crews absolute meet / pass points with passenger trains

• When instructed by the dispatcher, eliminate the requirement for ground roll by inspections

• Limit unattended and unsecured locomotives, and locomotives on a train on line of road.

• Do not operate trains in a tunnel with passenger trains

• Periodically contact the FBI district office Weapons of Mass Destruction coordinator for security coordination.